Why am I awake?

Actually, the title of this post is a rhetorical question. I now exactly why I'm awake. I think. Mostly... Let me explain.

I'm still up now because my cinnamon bread is about to go in the oven. I was still up before because, at about 2:30, I decided: hey, since I'm up, why don't I make bread for bible study and puppets? (puppeteers, actually, but whatever) Before that, though? I'm not really sure. I was probably up because everyone one else was, but I don't think that's really reason enough. Is it?

Lately, this has been happening alarmingly often. It's like I have second hand insomnia, which I must say is quite annoying. It's one thing to stay up when no one else is awake, to listen to the house creak and the wind blow, to let my imagination run wild. On nights like those, I write like a madmen; although, sometimes I clean and brood. But when EVERYONE stays up late... Then I end up sitting around eavesdropping, or listening to music by myself; either way, I'm not doing much productive. (I think I may be over using semi-colons here? I don't even know anymore. It seems the tireder (Is that even a word?) I get, the sloppier my sentence structuring becomes. Or maybe that's just my imagination.) This actually how I seem to be whenever I'm in the presence of people: I lurk in the background—doing general lurky things—whilst trying not to be noticed. At times, it's extremely frustrating. Especially when I'm actually trying to interact, but failing…

And that paragraph got away from me. It should probably be broken up. Or cut up. My internal editor isn't on the clock this late—probably one of the reasons writing is so productive when I'm up by myself.

Anyway, the fact is I am awake, and I am baking. In fact, if you'll excuse me one scend… There, bread is in the oven! Mmmm, if only you could smell what I'm smelling.

What else? 3 more hours and church starts!

Is there even a point to this post?

Methinks not.

Good morning—or night, as the case may be.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit,
M. S.

I'm in heaven…

Okay, not really, but that's not not the point. The point is that my experimental baking has once again paid off :)

At least once a month, I like to go to the counter without a specific plan or recipe to follow. That's what I did to day. I ended up starting with a basic whole wheat yeast dough enriched with eggs, milk, and butter. Then I decided I wanted to add oats to it.

I'd used a honey oat filling a couple times before (just last month, in fact), but not in a whole wheat dough. Still, I didn't want to do the same thing. So instead of mixing honey and oats, I used 2 parts trad. oats, one part brown sugar, and enough heavy cream to create a spreadable mix. As I was spreading the filling onto the rolled out dough, I got the idea to add a little nut meg, too. So add I did.

The bread came out of the oven a few minutes ago, and I got the idea to glaze the crust with honey. It was simple, nothing special, but after devouring almost half the loaf by myself, I'm very pleased. It's like candy, and I'll probably be making it again some time. My new favorite creation.

Sorry, no pictures. I don't have a camera at the moment, but maybe next time I will. In the mean time I'm going back to the second best part of baking: eating the finished product.

What about you, bake or cook anything delicious? Any creations or achievements you're particularly happy with? Any woeful tales of failure? Surprising results?

Happy Baking, have and nice week, and
Go mbeannaí Dia duit,
M. S.